“I do not know the meaning of all things.”

I am meant to write a poll today; an interesting question that will gauge the opinions and feelings of Exponent II readers today. But what question can I pose of the many questions being asked today? What feeling can I draw forth of the many emotions that are flooding our Mormon world today?

Kate Kelly’s disciplinary council will be held tonight and it impacts us all. Whatever you think and feel about Ordain Women or church leadership or revelation from heaven or the disciplinary process – this impacts us all.

As I think and feel today, I sing songs to myself as a way to bring order and calm.

“He gave me my eyes that I might see …..”

I see my brothers and sisters. I see hate and love. I see miracles and troubles.

“He gave me my ears that I might hear …”

I hear comfort and division. I hear scripture and the temple endowment. I hear hymns.

“He gave me my life, my mind, my heart …”

I think of Jesus and Joseph and Thomas. I think of patterns. I puzzle over the lines these patterns create: parallel lines, perpendicular lines.

I feel the Holy Ghost. I feel the love of friends and family. I feel pain around me. I feel compassion.

Today, I will not understand. I will not be able to connect the dots and make a straight line. All I know to do today is feel.

“For all his creations, of which I’m a part. Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.”

And from Nephi, a prophet:

“I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” 1 Nephi 11:17

What are you thinking and feeling today?

11 Comments

Em
June 22, 2014 at 9:25 am

Thank you so much for this. I hadn’t ever thought of that song in terms of humans and our relations, which I guess sounds silly. I just remember the visual aids from primary being all about nature, and of course the song itself says “He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings” — but it isn’t as thought that is the ONLY reason we have eyes. I love that he gave me my ears that I might hear — the pain of other people, the worries, the fears, the ideas. What I want most is for the women of the church to be heard. Maybe I need to start being a good role model of listening? This was beautiful and just what I needed before church today.

I feel sad for those directly involved and for our community. I feel cautious about going to church today. Last time I was in my ward two weeks ago I left Relief Society because of all the othering going on. I’m worried about what I might hear today and whether I’ll be able to respond with love.

It reminds me of a question someone recently asked: “How do faithful members collectively petition our prophets to petition the heavens?”

Answer: YOU DON’T. You look to the doctrine. General Conference. LDS.org. You never counsel the prophet. Period. Stay close to the church and the doctrine. Besides, if you look at a dissenting opinion, and can tell right away that it doesn’t match up with the Lord or His servants, why would any of us spend one additional nanosecond contemplating it?

Again, you do not counsel the prophet. You do not ask him to ask the Lord. If he wants to, he can. But there is no way it is appropriate to tell the prophet what you’d like him to do…especially when it comes to wanting him to ask about a doctrine that has already been clarified by Elder Oaks as one of the Lord’s servants. And, as one of my friends has said, ““What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, IT IS THE SAME.” (D&C 1:38) (emphasis added)

One of the most basic questions I can ask myself is this: Do I believe this? Do I REALLY believe that the voice of the prophets are the same as Jesus Christ’s? This question is at the core of most of the high profile attention the Church has been receiving lately.”

Julie, when you asked this same exact question on Times & Seasons, you got a great answer, which I will copy & paste here: “Umm Julie, you realize that most of the first 50 or so sections of the D&C were given BECAUSE someone petitioned the prophet?”

I have been so blessed to feel an outpouring of love towards the many, many people whose words I read. My focus has been brought back again and again to the simple commands to love and serve. It is, at least, something that I can control.